The Queen (pictured in Birmingham this week) will arrive in Malta on Thursday for a Head of State visit

A major security operation is under way in Malta this week ahead of the Queen’s State visit, as Europe remains on heightened terror alert in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

The Queen will arrive in Malta on Thursday for a Head of State visit, and will also launch the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will be attended by 53 leaders from the Commonwealth countries.

She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during the visit.

Officials in the Maltese government have said that security around the Queen’s visit has been ‘beefed up’ as a result of the Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.

One security measure that the Maltese government has already taken is temporarily suspending the Schengen agreement, and re-imposing national border controls.

The suspension of Schengen – which allows movement of citizens within the EU without any border checks – will last until the beginning of December.

The last time Malta suspended the Schengen agreement was during the Pope’s visit in 2010.

Although Malta remains a ‘low-risk’ country for terrorist attacks, about 30 Syrian refugees have been arrested there so far this year. Last week, two Syrians were arrested in Rome Ciampino airport as they tried to board a plane for Malta.

Since the Paris attacks, there is heightened fear across Europe that Islamic State terrorists are using the cover of Syrian refugees to come to Europe and launch attacks. The ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, is believed to have travelled to France from Syria posing as a refugee to launch the terrorist atrocity.

Maltese police and security services are being assisted by Scotland Yard officers as they prepare for the Queen’s visit, said Paul Azzopardi, a spokesman for the Maltese government.

A security source in the UK said: ‘Every precaution that can be taken is being taken. No stone will be left unturned. Safety of these world leaders is paramount.’

This is the first trip that the Queen and Prince Philip will make to Malta since 2007, when they visited the island to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

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One security measure that the Maltese government has already taken is temporarily suspending the Schengen agreement, and re-imposing national border controls

This is the first trip that the Queen and Prince Philip will make to Malta since 2007, when they visited the island to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Pictured, Maltese capital Valletta

The Queen has spoken of her ‘deep affection’ for Malta in the past, as she lived in the island for extended periods between 1949 and 1951 as a young naval officer’s wife while the Duke was posted there.

The Queen will attend the opening ceremony of CHOGM on Friday morning at the Maltese capital Valetta, accompanied by her husband and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

She and Prince Philip will also attend the gala dinner for CHOGM later on Friday evening.

Other Commonwealth leaders such as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to be there.